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St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Paradise Found!

November 20, 2015

Ever since watching the megahit, Pirates of the Caribbean, I
rate the beauty of an island on a scale of “1 to Pirates of the Caribbean 10!”
Unforgettably beautiful, the movies’ swoon worthy beach scenes had every movie
goer longing to find paradise, and after my recent visit to St. Vincent and the
Grenadines - also featured in one of the films - I can now declare paradise
found!

Dotting
the Lesser Antilles, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a collection of 32
spectacular islands and cays that scatter the Southern Caribbean Sea towards
Grenada. Laid-back and relatively unknown, much of its appeal is its seclusion,
something not every Caribbean island can offer.

This
is a destination for those seeking a real taste of the Caribbean, a place where
sky-blue waters gently lap upon crowd-free swaths of white-sand lined with
swaying palm trees and breathtaking seascapes. This is sheer paradise as it was
meant to be enjoyed.

On the beautiful island of St. Vincent, the
largest in the Grenadines, I drove along winding roads, past fishing villages,
isolated coves and sweeping expanses until I arrived at the 5-star Buccament Bay Resort. In part, what makes this all-inclusive community so desirable is
its setting, cradled between the emerald mountainous peaks of St. Vincent’s
striking interior and the pristine beaches on the island’s southwest coast.

My gorgeous villa was beautifully decorated,
and featured a private sitting area that opened onto an outdoor deck with a
private plunge pool. Sitting
atop a white-sand beach with sparkling turquoise waters is the outdoor double
infinity pool, my favourite place to disappear beneath an umbrella with a good
book. Poolside or beachside, the view is inspiring, especially at dusk. The
picturesque ‘Bat Cave’ and shipwreck located on one of the property’s secluded
coves reminded me of a scene straight out of the hit TV show, Gilligan’s
Island.

On
the big island of St. Vincent, where the scent of passion fruit seduced me,
lush green mountains, tropical rainforest, remote inlets, fishing villages and
sweeping expanses left me speechless. One of my favourite views was at the
residence of Prime Minister, Dr. Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, who entertained us
with tales of his good friends, Comandante Fidel Castro and former President
Hugo Chávez, during a breakfast meeting to the discuss the opening of the new
Argyle International airport that will offer nonstop jet service from North
America, Central and South America, and Europe to SVG.

St. Vincent's dramatic backdrop provides plenty to do. Climb through vibrant rainforest, bamboo groves and cloud forest to reach the top of St. Vincent's majestic La Soufriere Volcano. Afterwards, visit the towering Dark View Falls that cascade into two pools that are wonderful for bathing. Stroll through the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere with an array of tropical plants, flowers and trees. In Kingstown, walk along the capital's cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings and bustling with colourful markets, overlooked by Fort Charlotte where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and surrounding islands.

With
32 islands and cays that make up St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there is no
shortage of unforgettable escapes. Some of the more famous islands include
Young Island, Bequia, Mustique (where aristocrats, royalty and rock stars
vacation), Canouan, Mayreau, The Tobago Cays, Union Island, Palm Island and
Petit St. Vincent, characterised by white-sand beaches and sapphire waters. The
islands - some of which are uninhabited - are accessible by boat or flight which
I discovered to be an unforgettable way to take in the picturesque view of
yachts and sailboats bobbing in a sea of blue.

One
of the trip’s highlights was snorkelling and swimming with sea turtles in the
Tobago Cays followed by an overnight stay on the 135-acre Palm Island Resort.
This under the radar gem provided the ultimate private island escape nestled
amidst five white sand beaches and postcard-perfect views that literally took
my breath away.

My
accommodations were free from television and phones, offering the utmost in
relaxation and featured a king-size bed, peaked-ceilings, and a large verandah
and hammock where I sat and watched the sunset. If you’re looking for the
ultimate in seclusion, I suggest booking the private 2 bedroom villa that comes
with its own beach and pool.

St.
Vincent and the Grenadines is not your typical vacation destination. It’s
surprisingly untouched by the hordes of mass tourism that have changed the face
of many Caribbean islands. This is a tropical paradise in a secluded end of the
Caribbean where you can unplug and literally get away from it all, and in
this day and age, there is no greater luxury.

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Travelista73 is an online destination that inspires travel dreams and journeys through a collection of images, travel tips, hotel reviews, getaway guides and travel stories curated by travel journalist and writer Francesca Spizzirri, known internationally as Travelista73.